Electric perforating and recording machine



a. H. DAVIS. ELECTRIC PERFORATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. lSl4-.

Patented May 20, 1919.

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, e. H. DAVIS. ELECTRIC PERFORMING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

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e. H. DAVIS. ELECTRIC PEHFOBATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY ID. I91!- 5 NETS-SHEET 3- A -INVIVTOH Patented May 20, 1919.

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G. H. DAVIS.

glicm'c PERFORMING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APEUGATION FILED IULY l0. l9!

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GQH. DAVIS.

ELECTRIC PERFORATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l0. 19H.

Patented May 20, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 87 M EY GEORGE HGWLETT D AVIS, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC PERFQBATING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed IIuly 10, 1914. Serial No. 850.275.

1 '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, G'Eoncn How'LE-TT Davis, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of West Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Perforating and Recordin" Machines, of which the following is a fuli, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to electric perforating and recording machines, an particularly to "that class of erforating machines designed to perforate music sheet paper for usewith automatic pianos, and has for its object to provide in connection with the perforating mechanism, means for accurately recording the performance of a pianist. In one form of my invention the record of the performance is made by perfqtttti'nggthe music sheets so that they may be used to accurately reproduce the plyin of the pianist in exact accordance wit" the depression of the keys of the piano when the music sheet is played upon said piano. Another form of my invention is designed to mark, or indent, a music sheet in exact accordance with the performance oi the pianist in the depression of the keys of the piano connected thereto.

My present invention is an improvement upon the construction illustrated in my prior Patent No. 659,053, dated October 2nd, I900. In said prior appiicatien the electrical unch setting devices were designed to e in circuit with a circuit closer which was located beneath, and operated solely by the depression of the iano keys. This I find to have certain d ets which my present invention aims to correct, My present invention is so designed that the reproduction of music in perforated form may be utilized for again recording the music in a perforated music sheet, so that if the original perforated music sheet is played upon the automatic instrument with the proper musical eiiects as to tempo and expression, the resulting music sheet either in its perforated form or in its marked form, will be in exact accordancewith the tempo and expression given to the musical selection by the operator. The speed at which the electric perforator illustrated in my above named patent is operated is such that it is well adapted for use in connection with my present improvement. It is a Well known fact, however, that the present form of pneumatic perforators now in use in many actories in this country and abroad, cannot be specded up sufficiently to permit the punch setting devices to operate with sufficient rapidity to produce accurate results in a selection where the tempo is quick or even moderately quick. Under such circumstances I find that it is advisable to mark the roll by indentations rather than by gmching the apertures through the paper.

o'wcv'er, either of the devices, that is to say, the marking mechanism or the punching mechanism may be used in connection with the electrical pcrforator of my prior patent, and the marking mechanism alone may be used in connection with the pneumatic perforators.

In the accompanying drawinns forming a part of the specification Figure 1, represents so much of an electric player piano as may be necessary to indicate the location of my improvement; the piano mechanism being that of a well known electric player piano now on the market, known as the Electrelle.

Fig. 2 is a detached section of the piano keyboard showing a part of the hammer action and the contact rail in cross-section.

Fig. 3, illustrates the hammer action of a piano in connection with the operative mechanism of the Electrelle.

Fig. 4, is a plan view of the contact springsforming a part of the circuit closing mechanism.

Fig. 5, is a sectional front elevation of the contact rai and contact spring rail.

Fig. 6. illustrates so much of the perforating' mechanism of the electric perforat or as may be necessary to gain an understanding of my improvement.

Fig. 7, illustrates diugrannnatically the key and hammer action in circuit with the punch setting devices of a marking machine for recording the performance of a pianist, by means of indenting music roll paper.

Fig. 8, is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the piano key depressed and the circuit closed through the punch setting mechanism of a marking device.

Fig. 9, illustrates several of the marking punches bearing upon the surface of paper to be marked, which paper is designed to travel over a grooved roll.

Fig. 10, illustrates an end view of the feed roller mechanism with the tracker bar shown in dotted lines, such as may he used in opcrating the electric piano illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11, is a cross-section of the tracker bar showing the circuit closing mechanism for closing the electric circuits through the shoe operatin magnets shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1,% have shown the front of a piano with the Electrelle player mechanism attached thereto, and so much of the mechanism broken away as to illustrate the application of my device. In this figure the key bank, or bed 1, extends outwardly from the piano frame and supports the keys 2 of the piano. The Electrelle player mechanism is mounted in the upper part of the iano and comprises the continuously runnin roll 3, driven by means of the belt 4, from t e motor 5. Located under the key bed is a shaft 6, also driven by means of the belt 7, from the motor 5. This shaft 6 is desi ned for operating the feed mechanism of the perforated music roll take-up device 8; the latter being mounted upon the front of the key bed 1, as is well known in the Electrelle In Fig. 3, I have shown the piano action and the Electrelle operating device together with my improvement in position. The continuously operating roll 3 is mounted in bearings upon the end bracket 9; the latter bein supported by means of the bracket 10, rom the rear of the piano frame. The series of electro-magnets of which one is shown at 11, are mounted in a channel shaped bar 12, which latter is supported by the end brackets 9. The armature 13 of the magnets is supported by means of a small spring plate 14, secured upon the upper edge of the channel bar 12. lHounted upon the armature is a Z-shaped bracket 15, carrying at its outer end a pivoted shoe 16, the operative face 17 of which is located in position to bear upon the continuously running roll 3, when depressed, and since the shoe 16 is pivoted upon the bracket 15, the contact face 17 with the roll 3 will cause said shoe to swing outwardly in the direction of the arrow. This contact of the shoe with the roll, as is well known, occurs whenever the magnet is energized and the armature 13 drawn against the pole of the magnet. The piano action may be of any well. known type; that illustrated being operated by means of the wippen 18, pivoted to the action frame at 19. The piano keys 2, are each provided with an upwardly projecting post 20, in position to bear upon the under side of the wippen so that when the piano key is depressed the wippen 18 is thrown upwardly and thereby causes the hammer 21 to strike against the piano string 22, but as in the Electrelle the wippen may be o erated by means of the wippen tape 23, which is connected to the wippen pin 24, at its lower end, and to the ad1ustab e arm 25, which latter is rigidly secured to the shoe 16, so that the energizing of the magnet 11 and the consequent contact of the shoe 17 with the continuously running roll 3, will cause the wippen tape 23 to elevate the wippen 18, and thus throw the hammer 21 against the string 22. This operation is well known. The means for energizing the magnet 11, may be that shown in any of my prior patents, or that shown in the patent to Sanders, No. 1,086,334, (February 3rd, 1914,) and in the latter case it comprises the electro pneumatic tracker bar 26, shown in Fig. 11, and in dotted lines in Fig. 10. In this case a perforated music roll travels over the face of the tracker bar and vents in one of the ducts 27. The partial vacuum in the chamber 28 will cause the reed 29 to rise into contact with the contact point 30, which is insulated from the rest of the metallic parts of the tracker bar, by means of the insulating cover 31, and being in electrical connection with a source of current. and also with the magnet 11, it will be readily seen that the closing of the circuit by the raising of the reed 29, with the contact 30, will result in energizing the magnet 11 to produce the operation ust described. All this mechanism is old in the art and is merely described at this point in order to convey a knowledge of the operation of my improvement. It may be said, however, at this point, that the vacuum in the chamber28 is maintained by means of the air pump 32, which is operated by means of the motor 5, through the belt 33. It is deemed unnecessary to show the connections of these various parts inasmuch as they are well known in the art.

Mounted above the key bed 1, and span ning completely across the front of the pi.- ano behind the full board, is a metallic rail 34, and upon said rail is mounted a wooden or other insulating rail 35. Upon the rail 35 secured by means of screws, the contact springs 36, there being as many Contact springs as there arekeys upon the piano; saidcontact springs are located upon the rail 35, immediately in front of the wippens 18. Each of the wippens is provided with an arm 37, in position to bear upon and elevate the corresponding contact spring whenever the wippen 18 is thrown upward either by means of the piano key 2, or when said wippenis actuated by the electric mechanism heretofore described as being the charzwteristic of the Electrelle", such op eration being through the contact of the face 17, with the continuously rota-ting roll 3, and the strain upon the wippen tape 28. Immediately above the rail 35, is located a metallic rail 38, which also spans the complete front of the piano and is secured to the side frames thereof. Upon this rail 38, is located a plurality of adjustable contacts 39, consisting of the screw-threaded ele- 1 ,soases ments 4-0, provided with the adjusting nuts 41 above the rail, and 42 below the rail. The contact points 43 are of platinum and they register with corresponding plet-inumpoints 44, upon each of the contact springs 36. These platinum points are for the purpose of overcoming the sparking when contact is made and the parts are in electric circuit, as will be heie-inafter described. It will thus be seen that the elevation of the wippen 18, either by means of the depression of the piano key 2, or by means of the pull in on the wippen tape 23, will cause the arm 3 upon the wi ppen 18, to elevate the contact spring 36 and thus close the contact between the points 43 and 44. of the colntacts 36 and 40 is in circuit with one of the sets of punch operating magnets shown in Fig. 6. as is clearly seen.

Referring now to F ig. 6. which illustrates so much of a perforating mechanism as is necessary to again an understanding of my improvement, 45 is the .perforator frame or table, urpon which is mounted the die 47, which is provided with the series of punch apertures 48. Mounted upon each side of the table 45 are the uprights 49, between which the reciprocating punch block 50 is guided in its vertical reciprocetions; such reciprocations being produced by means of the eccentric 51, and its rod 62, which latter is pivoted to the {punch block at 53. It is to be understood that power is to be applied to the shaft 54, and that such punch block reciprocates at a very high rate of speed. In the lower part of the punch block is a series of loosely mounted punches 55. which slide up and down in the iower portion of the punch block. These punches are set by means of the notched slidingbars in a well known manner, it being understood that when the solid portion of the bar 56 is over the punch-55, said punch becomes a rigid part of, and reciprocates with the punch block 50, but when the notched tion of the bar 56 is over the punch. said punch will have nothing; to depress it through the paper and therefore it will not operate. The punch setting devices are 0])- eruted through the series of magnets 57, there being a set of said magnets for each one of said punches, as is well known. The armatures 58 of these magnets are pivoted at 59. to cross-bars extending across the supporting frame 60. for the magnets. Said armatures are each provided with an adjustable coil spring 61 for holding the armatures away from the poles of the magnets. The lower ends of the armatures are each provided with a rod 62', each one of which is correspondingly connected to one of the sliding bars 56, so that when one of the magnets 57 is energized, its armature 58 will be drawn to the pole of the magnet and as a consequence the notched sliding bar .56

will be drawn into the position indicated in Fig. 6, and thus set the punch for operation.

In Fig. 6, I have shown diagramma-tically an electrical connection between my im' provement and the several sets of punch operating magnets. It will be noted that the contact springs 36 are each in electrical connection with the corresponding set of magnets 57, by means of the wires (32. the return circuit coming by way of the wire 63, through the battery 64. or other source of electrical current, thence by the wire (35 to the contact 39. It will thus be seen that whenever the wippen 18 is elevated either by means of the wippen tape :23, or the key post 20, the contact spring 36 will be raised as shown, into contact with the contact point 39, thereby closing the circuit through the corresponding punch operating magnets, and such circuit will be closed so long as the 18 is elevated as shown. The enorgizing'of the magnet 57, of course, will set. the corresponding punch, and inasn'luch as the punch is being reciprocated the music sheet 66 will be perforated as it is drawn through the mechanism in exact accordance with the time of the elevation of the wippen 18, so that it is immaterial Whether the Wi 18 is actuated by the piano key 2, or by e pull of the tinge 23, the corresponding punch will be set an the music sheet will he correspondin 'l'y perforated. It. now. :1 pianist shou (1 play a selection upon the piano, the keys 2 would elevate the wippcns 18 through the posts 20, thereby closing the circuits through the corresponding magnets. and the selection which the pianist is playing will be perforated in exact accordance with the tempo at which the selection is rcntiered, and it will also preserve all of the characteristics of the pianists playing. lt', instead of the playing of the piano by hand. a. music roll havin the selection is played by means 'of the I) ayer mechanism hereto fore described, and the tempo regnllatingl device is put into operation, it ill result in the reproduction of the selection in exact accordance with the tempo at which the sclection is played by the player mechanism.

In order that the piano keys 2 may be completely disconnected from the hammer action when rendering a selection, so as to avoid all interference between the keys and the bane mer action, I may provide beneatl'i the forward ends of the keys. :1 rock-shaft (37, located upon the key bed as shown in Fig. 2. and provide said rock-shaft with a series of upwardly extending arms ('38, upon the up ward end of which arms is a rail 69. extend ing completely across the under side of the keys 2. This rock-shaft may be thrown up- Ward-1y as shown in full lines in Fig. '2, or thrown out of position as shown in dotted lines so as to completely free the keys of this locking device. As above indicated, the only purpose of this key locking device is to avoid any interference between the keys and the hammer action when a selection is being played by means of a perforated music sheet.

As indicated in Fig. 5, I may insulate each one of the contacts 39 from the rail 38, and lead a circuit wire from each of said con? tacts, in which case all of the contact springs 36, may be connected in the return circuit in the battery or other source of electrical current, or if desired the contacts 39 may be in metallic connection directly with the rail 38, and said rail connected in the return circuit from the battery, or other electrical source, while each of the contact springs 36 may be insulated from each other and each spring having a circuit wire leading to a corresponding magnet 57 this is a matter of judgment for the maker or the user of the device.

As heretofore indicated, some selections require such a rapid tempo that with a pneumatic perforator, the punch setting devices will not respond with sufiicient rapidity to the operation of the piano keys, or to the player mechanism of the piano. In such case I may substitute for the punching mechanism, a marking device shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and although I have shown such marking device in connection with an electric punch setting device, yet it will be readily understood that the magnets shown may be used for operating the pneumatics of the punch setting device in a pneumatic perforator. In this case instead of providing the die block 47, as shown in Fig. 6, I may provide a grooved roller 70, and I may substitute for the punches 55, the punches 71, each provided with a small anti-friction roller 72, at its lower extremity so that as the sheet 73 to be marked is drawn over said roller and the \vippen 18 operated as heretofore described, the circuit will be closed through, the contact spring 36, and the contact 39 through the punch settin magnets 57, with the result that the record instead of appearing in the sheet 73, as a series of perforations, it will appear in said sheet as a series of indentations, representing the length of time the piano key 2 has been depressed; or in case of the rendition of the selection by means of the perforated music roll, the length of the indentation will represent the length of time that the wippen 18 has been elevated by means of the player mechanism.

\Vhile I have shown my device as applied to an electric player-piano, it should be understood that this electric player mechanism is simply illustrative and that the wippen 18 in pneumatic player-pianos will serve equally well as a means for the attachment of the arm 37, inasmuch as said wippen is operated means of a music roll player instrument.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a perforating machine. and a piano action 'wippen, electrical means for controlling said perforating machine, and circuit closing means parts of which are carried by and movable with the said piano action wippen for operating said electrical means.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a recording mechanism, electrical means for controlling said recording mechanism, a plurality of piano action wippens, and a plurality of circuit closers parts of which are carried by and movable with said wippens for operating said electrical means.

3. In a device for recording musical selections, the combination of an electrically actuated recording mechanism, a plurality of piano action wippens, a source of electric current connected in circuit to said mechanism, and a plurality of circuit closers parts of which are carried by and movable with said wippens to close said circuits and thereby operate said recording mechanism.

4. In a device for recording musical selections, the combination of a series of punches, a series of punch setting and controlling devices, electrical circuits and electro-magnets for actuating said punch setting and control ling devices, a series of circuit closers in said electrical circuits, a plurality of piano action wippens, and means for closing said circuit closers parts of which are carried by and movable with said wippens.

5. In a device for recording musical selections, the combination of a series of record ing punches, a series of punch setting and controlling devices, electric circuits and electro-magnets for actuating said setting and controlling devices, a plurality of electric contact devices for said circuits. each of said contact devices comprising a fixed member and a spring member, a plurality of piano action wippens and means actuated by the movement of said wippens for closing said spring contact member against said fixed contact member.

(3. In a device for recording musical selections, the combination of a series of punches. means for actuating said punches, a series of punch setting and controlling devices, electric circuits and (Electromagnets for actuating said controlling devices, electrical contact devices in said circuits each device comprising a fixed member and a spring memher, a series of piano action wippens and an arm secured to each wippen for engagement with the spring member of the contact devices whereby the movement of said wippen will close said contact devices and thereby actuate said punch setting devices.

upon any kind of a 7. In a machine for recording musical selections, the combination with a reciprocating frame, a series of punches mounted to reciprocate in said frame, a series of punch setting and controlling devices, electrical circuits, and electro-niagnets for actuating said punch setting and controlling devices, an electrical contact device in each of said circuits comprising two normally separated members, a plurality of piano action \vippens, and means connected with each of said piano action wippens for closing the corresponding contact devices upon the movement of the Wippen.

8. In a device for recording musical selections, the combination of a constantly driven shaft, a frame reciprocated thereby, a series of punches mounted in said frame, a series of punch setting and controlling devices carried by said frame, electric circuits and electro-magnets for actuating said controlling devices, and electric contact devices in each of said circuits, each contact device comprising two normally separated members, a piano action having a plurality of Wippen members included therein, and means actuated by the movement of each of said wippen members for closing the corresponding one of said contact members against the other contact member.

9. In a device for recording musical selections, the combination of a driving shaft, a frame reciprocated by said driving shaft, a series of punches mounted in said frame, a

series of punch setting and controlling devices carried by said frame, electrical circuits and electromagnets for actuating said controlling devices to throw them in operative relation with said punches, a series of circuit closers in said electrical circuits, said circuit closers comprising a spring contact and an adjustable contact, a piano action including a series of wippens, a wippen arm secured to each of said \vippens in position to engage said spring contact member and press the same against said adjustable contact member upon the movement of said wippen.

10. In a device for recording. musical selections, the combination of a piano action including the keys, \vippens and hammers, a pair of contact rails located above the inner ends of said piano keys and adjacent to the wippens, a plurality of electrical circuit closers mounted upon said rails, and means actuated by the depression of the piano keys for causing said \vippens to operate said circuit closers, a recording mechanism, electrical means for actuating said recording mechanism, said means being set in operation by the closing of said circuit closers through the depression of the piano keys.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of July, 1914.

GEORGE HOW LETT DAVIS.

In presence of LOUIS M. SANDERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

